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Engineering Blog

Plant of the Week: Pearly Everlasting

posted September 8, 2023

Written by: Engineering Conservation Crew

Over 100 species of Anaphalis (everlastings) are recognized in India, south Asia, and Europe, but only one (A. margaritacea) occurs naturally in North America. Our N.A. species is commonly called pearly everlasting for the pearl-white bracts that surround the yellow disk flowers and it holds a special place in our native environment and in our hearts.

Native Americans often utilize odoriferous plants for medicinal purposes and pearly everlasting is no exception. Common uses for this species included ointments for sores, boiling in tea for rheumatism, or the smoke was utilized to treat colds. The plant is also among many native species used as a tobacco substitute. Furthermore, their bracts remain fresh in appearance long after the central disk flowers have wilted, making them well suited for dried flower arrangements, hence the common name “everlasting”. There are separate male and female flowers, usually on separate plants, and they take on different gender-specific yellow or rust-yellow color.

In the spring, this plant is a larvae host for many skippers as well as the American Lady- Vanessa virginensis. The young larvae create a silken web around the plant to feed. This can look discouraging if you are trying to grow this plant, but like in many native plant-insect relationships, the plant generally makes a full recovery and flowers later in the summer.

Perched atop this pearly plant are two predatory insects called ambush bugs. These apt hunters lie perfectly motionless on flowering species that attract their favorite meals and, at just the right moment, strike out with their praying-mantis like claws to capture their prey. Their favorite meals include flies, small moths, aphids, and can even catch creatures ten times their size like bumblebees and butterflies. While this may seem like a negative thing, predatory insects like ambush bugs are essential parts of a functioning ecosystem. They help keep insects populations in check, including garden pests, and we would quickly notice if them and other insect predators were gone.

Each week during the growing season, the Engineering Division focuses in on a Plant of the Week to raise awareness of different plants in the field that benefit our environment. The Engineering crews in the field tasked with conservation share expert insight on these plants and their benefits each week in a creative way!

PEarly everlasting

This content is free for use with credit to the City of Madison - Engineering and a link back to the original post.

Category: Educational, Environmental, Stormwater

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Recent Posts

  • Plant of the Week: Pearly Everlasting posted September 8, 2023
  • Plant of the week: Blue Sage posted September 1, 2023
  • Plant of the Week: Meadow Blazing Star posted August 25, 2023
  • Learn about Stormwater in 20 minutes! posted August 21, 2023

Archive

2023
September
  • Plant of the Week: Pearly Everlasting
  • Plant of the week: Blue Sage
August
  • Plant of the Week: Meadow Blazing Star
  • Learn about Stormwater in 20 minutes!
  • Plant of the Week: Partridge Pea
  • Alli's Perspective: 10 Things I learned in the First 2 Weeks at the City of Madison Engineering Division 
  • Plant of the Week: Old Field Thistle
  • Plant of the Week: Swamp Milkweed
July
  • Plant of the Week: Swamp Rose Mallow
  • Plant of the Week: Cardinal Flower
June
  • Plant of the Week: Purple Prairie Clover
  • Learn about Engineering’s Honey Bees
  • Plant of the Week: Amorpha Canescens
  • Happy National Pollinator Week!
  • Plant of the Week: Echinacea Pallida
  • Alli’s Perspective: A Ride in the Big Green Vactor!
  • Missed Bike Week? Learn About Upcoming Bike Projects
  • Plant of the Week: Prairie Phlox
  • Plant of the Week: Cow Parsnip
May
  • Plant of the Week: Packera Aurea
  • Plant of The Week: Prairie Smoke
  • Plant of the Week: Jack-in-the-Pulpit
  • Plant of the Week: Dutchman’s Breeches
  • ​​​​​​​City Engineering Earns State Award for Garver Path Project
March
  • Time lapse: Rain Garden through the Seasons Inspiration
  • Community Scientist Makes Big Splash, Leads to Grant Protecting Starkweather Creek
2022
October
  • Engineering Work Earns City 2022 Climate Champion Recognition
September
  • Since 2018: Watershed Studies
  • Since 2018: University Avenue
  • Since 2018: McKenna Boulevard
August
  • Since 2018: Stormwater Ordinance
  • Since 2018: Sprecher Road
  • Since 2018: Waite Circle
  • Engineering Employee Deployed with the United States Air Force Air National Guard
June
  • Tour the New Wingra School Rain Gardens Saturday
  • Monarch Pledge: Prettier Planter, Before and After
  • 5 things you can do for the environment
May
  • Public Works Week Panel: What is 1 example where Engineering has been resilient and ready?
  • Public Works Week Panel: What is 1 program that Engineering has that is most helpful for residents?
  • Public Works Week Panel: What does the future of Public Works hold for local municipalities?
  • Public Works Week Panel: What is something that continues to surprise you about working in Public Works?
  • Public Works Week Panel: Why is it important to work in Public Works?
  • Median Planting Bed Conversions - Frequently Asked Questions
  • City Engineer Robert Phillips to Retire After 33 Years of City Service

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